While all things Brazilian continue to influence music and dance (and of course, soccer), under the measured hands of Brazilian guitarist Edson Gazani and Australian singer Anita Fernandes, Yemanjá bring a new and distinct feel to the genre. Silky smooth soulful strings coupled with penetrating poetic lyrics, Yemanjá scoop you up and take you to that perfect Sunday afternoon, caipirinha in hand. The duo fuse jazz, bossa nova, samba and chanson tainted with a world music edge to serenade and soothe the most restless of souls. Their ability to take old traditional styles and progressively recreate them makes them truly unique, giving them a reminiscent yet modern edge.

Named after the revered Brazilian goddess of the sea, the pair have just returned from a year long overseas jaunt which saw them playing shows in London, Paris, Italy, Spain, Greece and Brazil.

"We were incredibly blessed throughout our travels", says Fernandes, recounting how chance and serendipity found them recording their second album in Rio de Janeiro. "The idea was to immerse ourselves in these incredible cultures and indulge in our love of world music and culture which was then to inspire our own songwriting. Throughout the year we visited 13 countries, India, Portugal, Spain, Greece, France, Chile and Brazil to name a few. We found that wherever we were we would meet these amazing and talented musicians who were keen to work with us, and before we knew it the music was literally pouring out and we recorded the majority of our second album in just 9 days." The pair also hooked up with Brazilian percussion master Pernambuco who at 63 has played with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Elis Regina & Hermeto Pascoal.

"We felt honored to be surrounded by these unbelievably talented people, particularly in Rio, the place just oozes creativity and expression and the good news is... it's contagious."

The duo boasts a combined heritage of Brazilian, Italian, Australian, German and Polish, which is reflected in their music. "We love to write incorporating all of our musical loves/cultures at any given time, therefore the outcome is always a big world fusion which we can hardly define ourselves. The basic idea for our new song Marí was birthed in Greece, but stayed llingering in our heads for some time. We wrote a little more in Dahab, Egypt, then added a bit in London and finally finished it in Rio, but to me it sounds completely like the Fado of Portugal."

Having released their debut album Divine is Life on James Blundell's Revenge Records label late last year and now putting the finishing touches on their second release, keep your eyes & ears out for the duo around Brisbane, and on the festival circuit later in the year. If jazzy, stylish, soulful & different is your thing, you're definitely in for a treat.